PTS Catalogue - Princeton Theological Seminary

Ph.D. Seminars
CH9021 Patristic Theological Literature
Topic for Spring 2013: Early Christian Interpretation of Genesis.
The subject of this seminar will be the interpretation of the scriptural Book of
Genesis by early Christian writers in various genres, including commentaries and
scholia, apologetic literature and hymnody. A selection of specific sections and/
or figures in the biblical book as well as of the early interpreters will be made at
the start of the course to suit the current interests of instructor and students. The
course will include general readings on biblical hermeneutics in the first Christian
centuries. Students will be expected to use Greek, Latin, or Syriac, as well as French
or German. 3 credits.
Spring Semester, 2012–2013; Ms. McVey
CH9025 Medieval Theological Literature
Topic for the seminar for Fall Semester 2013: From Hugh of St. Victor to St.
Bonaventure. 3 credits.
Fall Semester, 2013–2014; Mr. Rorem
CH9033 Calvin and the Classical Reformed Tradition
An examination of the theological, institutional, and pastoral development of
the classical Reformed tradition in the context of early modern (Reformation) history.
Particular attention will be devoted to John Calvin’s thought and practice,
with consideration also of the wider extent of the early Reformed tradition, both
key figures and geographic extent. The specific focus for fall 2013 is Word and
Sacraments. 3 credits.
Fall Semester, 2013–2014; Ms. McKee
HR9035 World Christianity through the History of Religions
Collectively and individually, “conversion” is a multidirectional process found
throughout religious history. In the academy, a lively debate has been conducted
about the nature and determinants of conversion. The seminar will assess a variety
of theoretical models, historic and contemporary, from those that are common in
biblical studies to those that are constructed by the social sciences, the “cognitive”
model of Africanist Robin Horton, for example. Phenomenologically, “conversion”
occurs in all religious contexts, not only to and from Christianity but also from
and to all other religions; thus, the approach will be comparative in outlook. The
seminar’s prime concern, however, is theory and methodology for understanding
Christianity’s emergence in the global South, through “conversion;” there,
the dominant context is ordinarily shaped by traditional religions—Buddhism,
Hinduism, and Islam. 3 credits.
Spring Semester, 2012–2013; Mr. Young
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